Cruising the Western Mediterranean On A Budget

A Western Mediterranean cruise is the perfect option for people who can’t make up their minds on what type of vacation they’re looking for. Not only do they incorporate the sunshine filled days relaxing by the water, but you also get to experience culture and history, calling at a different town, city or even country every day.

Many of these itineraries, offered by Bonvoyage Cruises, feature the affluent beaches of the south coast of France, the vibrant cities of Northern Spain and the beautiful sights and tastes of Italy. The problem that many people find is that these destinations are generally a lot pricier than their counterparts in the Eastern Med, whether it’s dining out, exploring the sights, or shopping for souvenirs. But you don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy a cruise in the Western Med; the trip can in fact be done on a budget.

Cruises are similar to all-inclusive resorts in many ways, and even better than them in others. One of the greatest perks of this is the money saving aspect. If you were to travel to each of the ports your cruise calls in separately, you would be looking at a pretty hefty total at the end of it. And that’s not even adding in the costs of food and souvenirs on top of accommodation and travel. With a cruise, your accommodation and travel costs are obviously all included, but you also tend to get your food and drink under that price too. If you want to try out some of the authentic foods at your destinations, your best bet is to grab a bite to eat at lunchtime instead, when portions and prices are much smaller.

There are also usually trips included as part of your cruise, although some can cost a bit extra if you’re being taken a bit further away from the coast or visiting somewhere particularly spectacular. So take advantage of the included ones! You can fill up your days with these excursions rather than heading off on your own and paying entry to other sights. It’s likely that a Western Med cruise will spend some time in Barcelona, so an example of an organised trip there might be to the Sagrada Familia. Of course, there will be times when you want to do your own thing, but if you research your destination, you’ll find that there are plenty of things to do cheaply or even for free. Simply wandering the streets will give you a feel of the culture and history of the area, and you might stumble across things to do for free such as the Pantheon in Rome. Even in Monaco, which is the height of expense in Western Europe, you can visit the public gardens and the Cathedral for absolutely nothing. Of course, if you decide to stay on board your ship, all the entertainment is free, day or night, meaning that you’ll never be lacking in things to do.

All in all, a little research and thinking ahead can help keep you on your budget while cruising the western Mediterranean.

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Mike Faust is an avid world traveler, often found traversing city streets in Asia and Europe rather than his home city of Boca Raton. Mike has touched down in 39 countries, set sail on 35 cruises, and flown over 400,000 lifetime miles.